Bruce Ellington, South Carolina’s renaissance man, has again traded in his cleats and shoulder pads for high-top sneakers and sweat bands.

The Gamecocks’ star wide receiver, who caught the game-winning touchdown in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day, is again the Gamecocks’ star point guard.

Bruce Ellington plays football and basketball for South Carolina. (AP Photo)

Ellington, a 5-9 native of Moncks Corner, S.C., should again have a big impact on the basketball team that has started 9-3 in coach Frank Martin’s first season at the school.

He caught a 32-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds to go to beat Michigan on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, he laced up his sneakers again and practiced with the basketball team in advance of Saturday’s home game against South Carolina State. The Gamecocks open SEC play next week at Mississippi State.

He averaged 10.6 points and 3.0 assists last season and already did appear in four basketball games between the end of the football regular season and before practice began for the Outback Bowl.

Ellington is a good football player who led South Carolina with 40 catches for 600 yards and seven touchdown catches this season. However, his best pro prospects just might be in basketball.

“I’ve always encouraged him to play both. He’s pretty good at both,” South Carolina assistant football coach Steve Spurrier Jr. told the Greenville News. “I think he’s got to do what he loves to do. It’s up to him what he’s best at. I don’t want to be one of those guys that say, ‘You need to play football because you’re going to the NFL and you can’t play in the NBA.’ I’m not going to be that guy.

“I’ve told him, ‘You have to do what you think is best for you, what you enjoy the most, and what you think you’ll have the best career in. You think you can play in the NBA, maybe you can. I can’t tell you if you can or can’t, but you’re an awfully talented football player, especially talented in the SEC. You’ve proven you can play at the highest level. I’m impressed with what you do, but you certainly have to do what’s best for you.’”

Just this week, Ellington said he hadn’t decided whether he’d play football during his senior season or dedicate himself to hoops.

“I’m not even thinking about that right now,” Ellington told reporters at the Outback Bowl. “I’m just going with the flow.”